Careers at STFM

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Director of Communications & Engagement

Location

This is a full-time hybrid position based in the Kansas City metro area. The weekly schedule is 2 days in the office (Mondays and Tuesdays at our Leawood, KS office) and 3 days remote (Wednesday through Friday).

Organization Overview

The Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) is a 501(c)(6) professional association dedicated to advancing family medicine and improving health through a community of teachers and scholars. STFM provides resources, training, and advocacy to support health professionals at medical schools and residency programs in educating future family physicians. As an equal opportunity employer, diversity is a core value of the organization.

Position Overview

The Director of Communications & Engagement provides strategic leadership for member-facing communications and engagement across the organization. This role ensures a cohesive, member-centered approach to publications, digital communications, and engagement initiatives that strengthen relationships with STFM’s community. While the position includes elements of marketing, its primary focus is on communication and engagement within a largely established membership audience.

Reports To

Chief Operating Officer

Key Responsibilities

Communications & Publications

  • Provide strategic guidance and support for organizational publications, including journals, digital content, and marketing communications.
  • Serve as the primary staff liaison for STFM’s job board and advertising vendor.
  • Advise and collaborate on publication priorities, timelines, and budget considerations, working through the Senior Publications Manager and editorial leadership as appropriate.
  • Contribute to content strategy direction for the STFM website and key membership and community engagement platforms, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and audience needs.
  • Help ensure consistency in voice, messaging, and brand across communication channels by providing oversight, guidance, and review rather than direct execution.

Member Engagement & Community

  • Lead engagement strategy for online communities, collaboratives, and member forums, including platforms such as Higher Logic/Connect and Quick Consult, to strengthen connection, participation, and peer learning.
  • Serve as staff lead for STFM’s mentoring activities, especially Quick Consult.
  • Serve as a key staff partner to board members and volunteer leaders on special projects related to communications, engagement, and publications.
  • Support board committees and task forces through project management and coordination, including planning, materials development, and strategic input for assigned initiatives.
  • Represent the organization in relationships with external vendors, consultants, and service partners supporting communications, publications, and engagement initiatives.
  • Act as a visible and accessible leader for members at conferences, meetings, and events, fostering strong relationships and reinforcing a culture of engagement.
  • Serve as staff lead for the Bishop Society and its activities.

Marketing & Outreach

  • Provide direction for marketing efforts that support member participation in programs, events, and initiatives.
  • Oversee digital marketing strategy, including email communications, social media, and campaign-based outreach.
  • Collaborate with internal teams to promote key initiatives in alignment with organizational goals and member needs.
  • Guide the development of promotional materials and coordinate with designers and external vendors as needed.

Strategy, Data, and Leadership

  • Manage strategic projects and special initiatives aligned with the organization’s strategic plan, coordinating across departments to drive execution, monitor progress, and deliver measurable outcomes.
  • Develop annual goals, benchmarks, and budgets for communications and engagement initiatives.
  • Prepare reports and analytics for leadership and the board related to publications, engagement platforms, and outreach efforts.
  • Lead, mentor, and support a team; establish clear performance objectives and conduct regular evaluations.

Job Skills & Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
  • 5–7+ years of progressive experience in communications, engagement, marketing, or membership-related roles, preferably in a nonprofit, association, or academic environment.
  • Strong writing and experience with editing (AMA style preferred)
  • Demonstrated experience leading teams and managing multiple priorities in a complex organization.
  • Experience with managing projects and initiatives with multiple team members and stakeholders.
  • Proficiency with digital platforms, content management systems, and engagement tools.
  • Strong analytical skills with the ability to use data to inform strategy.
  • Collaborative leadership style with a strong service orientation to members and stakeholders.

Travel Expectations

Ability to travel up to 3-4 times a year to designated conferences and events.

How to Apply

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Ask a Question
AI Chatbot Tips

Tips for Using STFM's AI Assistant

STFM's AI Assistant is designed to help you find information and answers about Family Medicine education. While it's a powerful tool, getting the best results depends on how you phrase your questions. Here's how to make the most of your interactions:

1. Avoid Ambiguous Language

Be Clear and Specific: Use precise terms and avoid vague words like "it" or "that" without clear references.

Example:

Instead of: "Can you help me with that?"
Try: "Can you help me update our Family Medicine clerkship curriculum?"
Why this is important: Ambiguous language can confuse the AI, leading to irrelevant or unclear responses. Clear references help the chatbot understand exactly what you're asking.

2. Use Specific Terms

Identify the Subject Clearly: Clearly state the subject or area you need information about.

Example:

Instead of: "What resources does STFM provide?"
Try: "I'm a new program coordinator for a Family Medicine clerkship. What STFM resources are available to help me design or update clerkship curricula?"
Why this is better: Providing details about your role ("program coordinator") and your goal ("design or update clerkship curricula") gives the chatbot enough context to offer more targeted information.

3. Don't Assume the AI Knows Everything

Provide Necessary Details:The STFM AI Assistant has been trained on STFM's business and resources. The AI can only use the information you provide or that it has been trained on.

Example:

Instead of: "How can I improve my program?"
Try: "As a program coordinator for a Family Medicine clerkship, what resources does STFM provide to help me improve student engagement and learning outcomes?"
Why this is important: Including relevant details helps the AI understand your specific situation, leading to more accurate and useful responses.

4. Reset if You Change Topics

Clear Chat History When Switching Topics:

If you move to a completely new topic and the chatbot doesn't recognize the change, click the Clear Chat History button and restate your question.
Note: Clearing your chat history removes all previous context from the chatbot's memory.
Why this is important: Resetting ensures the AI does not carry over irrelevant information, which could lead to confusion or inaccurate answers.

5. Provide Enough Context

Include Background Information: The more context you provide, the better the chatbot can understand and respond to your question.

Example:

Instead of: "What are the best practices?"
Try: "In the context of Family Medicine education, what are the best practices for integrating clinical simulations into the curriculum?"
Why this is important: Specific goals, constraints, or preferences allow the AI to tailor its responses to your unique needs.

6. Ask One Question at a Time

Break Down Complex Queries: If you have multiple questions, ask them separately.

Example:

Instead of: "What are the requirements for faculty development, how do I register for conferences, and what grants are available?"
Try: Start with "What are the faculty development requirements for Family Medicine educators?" Then follow up with your other questions after receiving the response.
Why this is important: This approach ensures each question gets full attention and a complete answer.

Examples of Good vs. Bad Prompts

Bad Prompt

"What type of membership is best for me?"

Why it's bad: The AI Chat Assistant has no information about your background or needs.

Good Prompt

"I'm the chair of the Department of Family Medicine at a major university, and I plan to retire next year. I'd like to stay involved with Family Medicine education. What type of membership is best for me?"

Why it's good: The AI Chat Assistant knows your role, your future plans, and your interest in staying involved, enabling it to provide more relevant advice.

Double Check Important Information

While the AI Chat Assistant is a helpful tool, it can still produce inaccurate or incomplete responses. Always verify critical information with reliable sources or colleagues before taking action.

Technical Limitations

The Chat Assistant:

  • Cannot access external websites or open links
  • Cannot process or view images
  • Cannot make changes to STFM systems or process transactions
  • Cannot access real-time information (like your STFM Member Profile information)

STFM AI Assistant
Disclaimer: The STFM Assistant can make mistakes. Check important information.